How can I find out if a scholarship is limited to tuition and fees?
I received a scholarship, but I’m uncertain about its restrictions. My financial aid office has been overwhelmed, and I’ve been waiting over a week for a response. Unfortunately, I’m not on campus to visit in person, and I hear the wait is about 35 people long.
The only information provided with the scholarship states: “Preferably, the full distribution amount is to award as many full tuition scholarships as possible. If the full distribution amount is less than what is needed for a full tuition scholarship, it will still be awarded according to the stated criteria.”
What does this mean? I’ve heard that if it doesn’t specify it’s only for tuition and fees, it may be considered unrestricted. Is this language indicating that the funds are strictly for tuition and fees, or is it just a general way of suggesting that the money can be used for tuition?
The scholarship office was unable to review my specific scholarship but mentioned that if it doesn’t explicitly state that it’s restricted to tuition and fees, then it is likely unrestricted.
It sounds like you’re in a bit of a confusing situation with your scholarship. Based on what you’ve shared, the scholarship wording does suggest a preference for full tuition scholarships, which typically implies that the funds are intended for tuition and fees. However, it doesn’t explicitly state that the scholarship is restricted to tuition and fees only.
The phrase “Preferably, the full distribution amount is to award as many full tuition scholarships as possible” indicates that the primary goal is to cover tuition costs, but it does leave some room for interpretation regarding how the funds can be used. If there’s no explicit language restricting the scholarship to tuition and fees, it might possibly be considered unrestricted, allowing you some flexibility in how you can use the funds.
Since your financial aid office is currently backed up, you could also look into any official documentation or the website for the scholarship to see if there’s additional information or guidelines provided. If you’re able to find a contact email for someone in the scholarship office who might be able to respond more quickly, reaching out that way could help clarify things as well.
In the meantime, if you need to make any decisions regarding expenses, it might be safest to assume that the funds are primarily for tuition and fees unless you receive confirmation otherwise. Good luck!